Richmond Marathon to provide measured course at Dorey Park, Virginia Capital Trail from Nov. 7-Nov. 22

August 13, 2020

Course to also include distances for Richmond Half Marathon and Allianz Partners 8k

RICHMOND, VA – The 2020 Richmond Marathon, originally scheduled for Saturday, November 14, won’t be held as a traditional single-day event due to public health guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sports Backers, the nonprofit event organizers, announced today. The event will instead offer an official course starting and finishing at Dorey Park for participants to take on the challenge of completing a marathon in a safe and socially distanced manner from November 7-November 22, and a virtual option remains in place for participants to take part on a route of their choosing as well. Registration is available at www.richmondmarathon.org.

The official course will also feature distances for the Richmond Half Marathon and Allianz Partners 8k, which were set to take place in conjunction with the marathon on November 14. The official measured and marked courses will include a shared start and finish line in Dorey Park in Henrico County, just east of downtown Richmond, before continuing along the Virginia Capital Trail, a paved, 10-12-foot wide dedicated multi-use path providing participants a scenic and protected route. The courses will feature mile markers, bottle refill stations, and restroom facilities, and the exact routes can be found at the following link: https://www.richmondmarathon.org/race-weekend/course-information/

“We look forward to the Richmond Marathon every year and we are happy to be able to provide a way for participants to step up to a start line, take on the challenge of a marathon, half marathon, or 8k, and feel the joy and excitement of crossing the finish line,” said Megan Schultz, Chief Operating Officer for Sports Backers and race director for the Richmond Marathon. “We know many participants are already training and many more are looking for opportunities to take part in an event this fall and we think this is an innovative way to meet that demand.”

As part of an ongoing commitment to the health and safety of participants, volunteers, and staff, Sports Backers convened a Medical Task Force to advise on best practices for safe and responsible event management. The Task Force, composed of sports medicine, emergency medicine, emergency management, and public health professionals from organizations around the Richmond region, provided input and advice on the marathon course plan and will continue to serve as a resource moving forward.

“We especially want to thank the members of the Task Force for their knowledge and guidance on this concept,” added Schultz. “Their public health and medical expertise have been extremely valuable as we seek new ways to provide active living opportunities for all.”

The race courses will be open from 5 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day from Saturday, November 7, to Saturday, November 22. The event will utilize the RaceJoy app to track participant times and compile a race leaderboard, allow friends and family to send messages to runners, and guide participants along the courses. Each of the three distances will have a registration capacity of 3,000 participants.

Registered participants who opt to run the race course in Dorey Park, or take part virtually on a course of their own choosing, do not need to make any changes to their registration. Anyone unable to take part on the course or virtually can opt to either (a) receive a credit to another Sports Backers event to be used between now and November 1, 2021, (b) defer to the 2021 or 2022 marathon, half marathon, or 8k for free, or (c) donate your race entry fee to Sports Backers to support the organization’s nonprofit mission of inspiring active living in all corners of the Richmond region. The deadline to receive an event entry credit, defer to 2021 or 2022, or donate a race fee is October 31.

Registration for all three race distances is currently open, with a rate of $85 for the Richmond Marathon, $75 for the Richmond Half Marathon, and $30 for the Allianz Partners 8k. Though the event will look different in 2020, Sports Backers aims to show their appreciation to participants for their continued support during this difficult time by providing the best experience possible and offering added incentives to those who take part. Everyone who participates in any way in September will also receive a $10 credit towards the 2021 Richmond Marathon.

“The Richmond Marathon is a great celebration of our mission to motivate residents and visitors to live a healthy and active lifestyle on a daily basis,” said Jon Lugbill, Executive Director of Sports Backers. “Every year we are inspired by the determination and dedication of participants to achieve a running milestone in the marathon, half marathon, or 8k, and we are excited to offer participants that opportunity in a new way this year.”

For more information on the course format, event schedule, and registration options, please visit www.richmondmarathon.org.

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About Sports Backers
With a key message of Let’s Go, RVA, the mission of Sports Backers is to inspire people from all corners of our community to live actively. A non-profit organization, Sports Backers is dedicated to producing nationally recognized quality sporting events and programs that motivate residents and visitors alike to be more active, supporting youth running and fitness programs, and advocating for safe and connected networks of bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Learn more at www.sportsbackers.org.